Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Stella McCartney to open in Dubai, expands in the Middle East region

LONDON, FEBRUARY 4, 2009.Stella McCartney continues its expansion in the Middle East region with the opening of the first store in Dubai, which follows the stores recently opened in Bahrain and Kuwait.A location in Qatar will follow in two weeks, while Jeddah and Riyadh are due to open later this spring, totalling six stores in the Middle East by the middle of 2009.

Stella McCartney’s presence in the Middle East first started in 2003 with Villa Moda, Kuwait.Further growth in the region was developed with key wholesale accounts such as Harvey Nichols, Riyadh and Al Rubaiyat, Jeddah.The first freestanding store in the Middle East opened in June 2008 in Bahrain’s Moda Mall under a franchise agreement between Stella McCartney Limited and Almana, soon followed by a location in Kuwait’s Al Thuraya Mall in January 2009 with Al Ostoura Intl. Company as franchisee. The store in Qatar opening at the Pearl, the country’s first international urban development venture, later this month will be the second store to open under the arrangements with Almana.

The Dubai store is located in currently the world’s largest mall, the Dubai Mall which opened in December 2008.The Dubai store is the first of three freestanding stores under Stella McCartney Limited’s franchise arrangements with Al Tayer along with the upcoming stores opening in Jeddah’s Stars Avenue Mall and Riyadh’s Centria Mall.

Stella McCartney launched her own fashion house under her name in 2001 in a jointventurewithGucci Group.A lifelong vegetarian, Stella McCartney does not use any leather or fur in her designs. The brand’s luxury women's ready-to-wear, shoes,bags,fragrances,eyewear, accessories,organic skin care ranges and performance range with adidas are also available through its 11 other flagship stores including London, NY,LosAngeles, Shanghai, Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong and Paris as well around 600 wholesale accounts in key cities worldwide.

About Al Tayer

Al Tayer Group is a diversified regional business established in 1979 with its headquarters in Dubai, UAE. Since its inception, the Group has grown rapidly and currently operates in 12 countries in the Middle-East and beyond, with over 6500 employees of 85 nationalities. It has built leading operations in multiple sectors, including automotive, contracting, distribution, publishing, retail, and services. The Group is currently comprised of 5 companies.Their luxury retail arm, Al Tayer Insignia, includes representation of major brands such as Harvey Nichols, Armani, Gucci, Pucci, Bulgari, and Boucheron

About Almana

The Almana Group is one of the largest business houses in Qatar.Under its subsidiary, Al Mana Luxury Company, the group covers a diversified portfolio of industries from mass to luxury fashion, jewelry, automotive, real estate, restaurant, Media companies and others.Al Mana Luxury Company carries a large number of luxury and high end fashion brands, and is positioned as the unique carrier of the most prestigious international fashion houses.

About Al Ostoura

Al Ostoura Intl. Company has been committed to providing their customers with the most designer and luxury products available in the fashion, jewelry, accessories and modern furniture industries since 1985.Al Ostoura Company holds the highest market share of high-end luxury fashion in Kuwait.An impressive number of international brands have chosen Al-Ostoura to be their exclusive reseller in the Kuwaiti market including Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Jil Sander, John Galliano, Lanvin, Marc Jacobs and recently Stella McCartney.